No matter which manual you read through, an electric pump is assumed to be a prerequisite for a fountain to function. But isn't it possible without it?
A pump can also be powered by solar energy
A little bit of physics to start with
In fact, you can also build fountains without electric pumps - the numerous fountains from the 17th and 18th centuries, some of which are still working today, prove it. However, such systems - such as in Versailles - were not possible without enormous effort, because in order to get the water to bubble meters high, it first had to fall from a great height - after all, water only flows when there is a gradient - where it finally is had to be carried back up. In Versailles, for example, this happened with a water-powered water lift, which lifted the masses to a height of 160 meters. Of course, you cannot create such an effort in your own garden, nor can other physical gimmicks be transferred to a garden fountain.
Select the right pump
The alternative is that you cannot build a (permanently) functioning fountain without an electric pump. Submersible pumps are wonderfully suitable for most applications. There are different types with different flow rates, which determines how high the pump can spray the water. The nozzle also has a further influence on the water jet. There are different types of nozzles with different jet effects that can be placed on the opening of a submersible pump.
Install electric pump
Water and electricity are always a combination that should not be taken lightly when it comes to safety. However, low-voltage pumps are not suitable for larger jump pumps due to their limited performance and can therefore only be used for smaller water elements. Solar powered pumps are another option, but the initial cost is quite high and performance is quite inconsistent due to changing weather conditions. Installing a fountain pump requires you to run a power cord through conduit to protect it from damage. You lay this pipe under the floor, a deck or slabs.
tips
A pump can also be operated in other ways without electricity: for example, by solar or wind energy. If you can use a stream or other flowing water for the fountain, try the so-called ram pump. This was still very widespread up to 150 years ago, but has almost been forgotten today.